Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-24
CITY.HALL EMPLOYEES.
They Must be Employed by the City
Engineer.

The Committee on Grounds and Build
ines Of its meeting held Nav fGta adopted
the Following resolution, which was after.
wards referred TO the City Attorney for his
opinion a. 10 ITS legality:
Rssoired. That section Of the resolutions
adopted by this committee for building the new
City Hall be amended and ro-enacted 10 read
Rs follows: THAT as the different parts OF the
work warrant IL all the names Of applicants
for foreman, vatchmen, ume-keeper, book
keepers, and oil the officers acting under the
City Engineer. he presented, with whatever re-
commentator or htness for the position tina.
can be gathered. 10 the committee Dy the City
Engineer. the election OF whom shall be laid
over at least one week 20 give the committed
time 20 examine into their fitness, character,
and adaptatility for the positions asked for,
and at which meeting the one receiving the
majority OF the whole committee shall get the
appointment"
The vote on the adoption OF the resolu-
ton was:
AyEs-hessrs. Am n ons, Snsad, and Kend'
| Ter (chairman)-3.
NO.-Mr. Crenshaw
MIR. Andrew .PiZAGi, Jr., was not pres.
ent at that meeting, being out OF the city.
lie wrote a note 10 the chairman, however,
asking that he be put on record as III fayOr
Of the entire repeal OF the original resOlu.
| iion OF the committee.
At the meeting last evening Of the CON-
mittee the City Attorney rendered the fol-
lowing opinion:
RICHMOND, May 2i, 1877.
| 10 the Committee Grounds and buildings:
Gentlemen.-I am In receipt of a copy OF the
| resolution adopted by you on May 18Th, and ~
| 10 which you ask for my opinion. Ine said
| copy Is herewith enclosed. Chapter los OF tho
| City Ordinances defines your powers "a TO tho
| building OF the City Hall. On August IL, 1886.
sections and 3 were amended. but sc 'tion 4
| remains as Is was originally passed. Thelaiter
section provides that" tho Engineero Of the city,
under the direction Of the Committee on
| Grounds and Buildings, shall hGvo control OF
| the construction and furnishing Of said City
HALL" &C., Sc.
You win see that tho "control Of the con-
aiructiOn - f. lodged by the ordinance Ia the
City Engineer. You will also see that the said
control is 10 be "under the direction OF your
committee. What, then, is meant by the words
under the direction Of the Committee on
| Grounds and Buildngs"7 Did Il mean that
| whatever steps the Engineer should take Ia
said construction stOuld be under instructions
given by your Such could hardly have been
! The intention Cf The Council; for such con-
structiOn would uselessly hamper the "cOn-
troll" lodged in the Engineer Indeed, under
such construction the "control." which the
ordinance places I'm the Engineer, woIld be
lodged in your committee.
think that the proper construction Of the
NOfCs un0tf lne NftfDOu OF your COIllult-
| tee Is that the conduct aud acts OF the Engi-
neer therein are subject 10 the supervision OF
your committee, with power TO approve or dis
approve
Such being my construction OF the ordinance.
am Of opinion that your said resolution Of
Nay 18th Is beyond the scope Of your powers
| and void.
am Of opinion that the power Of employ
ment is with the Engineer. You have the right
TO disapprove of any appointment should
you Go so IL would bo the duty Of the Engineer
| To make another appointment, which would
also he subject 10 your approval or disap-
proval.
am strengthened in the above opinion by
section Of the resolution adopted By your
committee and reported 10 the Board Of Alder
men August 3. 1886. In that section you in
formed that branch Of the City Council that
YOU proposed TO pursue the very course which
] state abOye Is in accordance with the prODcr
construction Of section 4 Of chapter los, City
Ordinances. Very truly,
c. V. MEREDITH. City Attorney.